No-waste policy in time for Cup

If your vision of watching huge yachts whip around the bay next year includes getting the chance to also sip water out of a plastic bottle, carry food in a plastic bag, eat that food with a plastic fork and then, for kicks, release a balloon into the foggy skies above, you can forget about it.

In our ever-greener city, such behavior at large events on port property, including next year’s America’s Cup, is now strictly prohibited. And it’s likely the behavior will soon be verboten at large events around the city as well.

The San Francisco Port Commission has adopted a new “zero waste policy” for events with an expected turnout of at least 5,000 people – and is encouraging it for smaller events, too.

We heard off-the-record rumblings the policy was initiated out of concern America’s Cup organizers will skirt their pledge to be sustainable.

Critics of the deal between the city and the event authority might say that’s a valid worry, seeing as how the event organizers are now insisting they get Pier 29 or some other extra property beyond the deal signed off on by the Board of Supervisors. (To be fair, the event authority says it never signed off on that original pact.)

In any case, everybody’s professing to be pleased as punch (packaged in a stainless-steel thermos, naturally) about the new requirements.

They include banning single-use plastic water bottles (the commission added language that carbonated and flavored water also cannot be sold that way), plastic bags or utensils that aren’t compostable, and the “intentional release of balloons.” The commission argues that it’s especially necessary on port property where trash can easily get blown around by the wind and wind up in the bay.

Jill Savery, head of sustainability for the America’s Cup, said the changes are “in line with the plans and strategies that we’ve been developing for the last year.” She said organizers also will abide by the rules at America’s Cup events on non-port property such as the Marina Green.

The biggest challenge will be keeping the huge crowds expected to turn out for the sailing race hydrated. Summer days, heaving crowds, no water bottle sales and – let’s face it – booze could be a dicey mix.

“Our ambition is to be able to provide water refilling stations to the public,” Savery said. “We’re hoping this will be a legacy project as well.”

Other events that will be affected include fundraising walks and runs, tailgate parties at sports events, the Fourth of July celebration, Oktoberfest, Fleet Week and New Year’s Eve festivities.

Melanie Nutter, director of the city’s Environment Department, is very supportive of the policy.

It’s in keeping with the recent ban on most plastic bags and the city’s longtime goal of producing zero waste by 2020, Nutter said.

“We’re really excited,” she said. “It’s very forward thinking.”

The environment commission will probably encourage other departments to follow suit and may even look at persuading federal authorities that control the Presidio to adopt the measures, too, Nutter said.

By the numbers

28 Percent of San Francisco households that are considered middle class, meaning they earn between $81,000 and $152,000 a year for a family of four, according to Supervisor Scott Wiener’s office.

10 Percent decline in middle-class households in the city in the past 20 years.

7 Percent of homes for sale in the city that are affordable to middle-income households.

Quote of the week

“You’ve always held the key to our hearts, and now you have the key to our city.”

Renel Brooks-Moon to Tony Bennett at the 50th anniversary of his first performance of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”